You want to research general mineral properties like luster, cleavage, fracture, hardness and streak (know the Mohs hardness scale). For rocks, know the rock cycle and the types of sedimentary (clastic, chemical, organic), metamorphic (foliated, unfoliated) and igneous (intrusive, extrusive) rocks. Note that you don't necessarily need to memorize the type/property of each individual specimen, you just need to know the definition and how it applies.
A good place to start: SciOly Wiki
Wikipedia works, but sometimes you might not understand it so Google might be better.
This list contains 93 specimens, which is way too much for anyone to memorize in time for the mini-competition. Therefore, the most important ones to know (and will most likely be on the mini-competition) are:
The Official Rocks and Minerals list
You want to research general mineral properties like luster, cleavage, fracture, hardness and streak (know the Mohs hardness scale). For rocks, know the rock cycle and the types of sedimentary (clastic, chemical, organic), metamorphic (foliated, unfoliated) and igneous (intrusive, extrusive) rocks. Note that you don't necessarily need to memorize the type/property of each individual specimen, you just need to know the definition and how it applies.
A good place to start: SciOly Wiki
Wikipedia works, but sometimes you might not understand it so Google might be better.
This list contains 93 specimens, which is way too much for anyone to memorize in time for the mini-competition. Therefore, the most important ones to know (and will most likely be on the mini-competition) are:
Minerals (12):
Bornite
Chalcopyrite
Corundum
Diamond
Galena
Gypsum
Halite
Hematite
Pyrite
Quartz
Staurolite
Talc
Rocks (Sedimentary):
Limestone
Sandstone
Shale
Rocks (Metamorphic):
Marble
Quartzite
Slate
Rocks (Igneous):
Granite
Obsidian
Pumice